Surgical implement detection system
First Claim
1. In a system for detecting in human or animal tissue a surgical implement used during an operating procedure carried out in an operating room, wherein a marker attached to said surgical implement changes its impedance at a preselected interrogating frequency in the presence of an electromagnetic interrogating field whereby said marker is provided with a signal-identifying characteristic, the improvement wherein the surgical implement is deployed within the wound during the operating procedure and said signal-identifying characteristic is detected outside the operating room.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Surgical implements used during an operating procedure are detected in human tissue. Markers attached to the surgical implements change their impedance at a preselected frequency in the presence of an electromagnetic field. Each of the markers is thereby provided with signal-identifying characteristics. The signal-identifying characteristics are detected outside the operating room in an accurate, reliable manner. Potential interference with operating room electronic instrumentation is avoided, the possibility of operator error is reduced and system cost and space requirements are substantially lowered.
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Citations
18 Claims
- 1. In a system for detecting in human or animal tissue a surgical implement used during an operating procedure carried out in an operating room, wherein a marker attached to said surgical implement changes its impedance at a preselected interrogating frequency in the presence of an electromagnetic interrogating field whereby said marker is provided with a signal-identifying characteristic, the improvement wherein the surgical implement is deployed within the wound during the operating procedure and said signal-identifying characteristic is detected outside the operating room.
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12. A method for detecting a surgical implement left within a patient after surgery comprising the steps of:
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a. attaching a marker to said surgical implement before use during said surgery, said marker having a signal-identifying characteristic in the presence of an electromagnetic interrogating field;
b. placing a surgical-implement detector outside of an operating room, said detector being adapted to generate said electromagnetic interrogating field and detect said signal-identifying characteristic;
c. subjecting said patient after said surgery to said electromagnetic interrogating field generated by said surgical-implement detector;
d. detecting said signal-identifying characteristic; and
e. activating an indication means in response to the detection of said signal-identifying characteristic indicative of the presence of said implement. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification